Burton Albion suffered their equal-heaviest defeat in the Championship of 4-1 on a torrid afternoon at the hands of Hull City.

Albion recovered well from an early goal to level the game through Jackson Irvine's brilliant curling effort, only for Irvine's red card minutes later to lay the foundations for a second-half collapse in tough circumstances.

Nigel Clough elected for two changes from Saturday's defeat to Cardiff City, with Tom Naylor and Hope Akpan coming in for John Mousinho and Lloyd Dyer.

Those changes also necessitated a switch in system, with Albion moving to a 3-5-2, Naylor partnering Kyle McFadzean and Jake Buxton at the back.

Stephen Warnock moved to the left flank - and took on the captain's armband - but the signs of what were to come for Burton at the KCOM Stadium revolved around him.

The ex-Liverpool defender was down on his back within two minutes after twisting an ankle while trying to beat Hull full-back Ola Aina. And despite some treatment from physio Nick Fenton and a quick return to the field, Warnock was quickly signalling to the bench and being replaced by Dyer in the fifth minute.

A healthy dose of salt was then added to that wound only two minutes later when the Tigers took the lead.

Markus Henriksen's fierce long-range drive came cannoning back off the Burton crossbar, and Abel Hernandez - who looked suspiciously offside - was lurking to power the rebound home with his head, despite the best efforts of Stephen Bywater.

Read More

Bywater may well have been beaten again in the early skirmishes as Albion struggled to get a foothold, Hernandez curling an effort wide and the dangerous Kamil Grosicki rounding the Brewers keeper after breaking through, only to put his attempt into the sidenetting under pressure from McFadzean with the goal gaping.

The Brewers were on the ropes at that stage - but their response is one we have come to expect.

Marvin Sordell - partnering Lucas Akins up front - twisted well in the box and sent a shot inches over Allan McGregor's bar, while Naylor saw a powerful effort well saved and Akins saw a fine finish ruled out for offside.

Abel Hernandez of Hull City (Image: James Wilson/Epic Action Imagery)

But there was nothing McGregor could do about Albion's leveller, as Irvine gave the travelling faithful a welcome reminder of his sublime eye for goal.

Dyer did well to get into the box on the left and cross for Matty Lund, who was blocked out but could pass back for Irvine - and the Australian international arced a delightful effort into the top right corner from the edge of the box.

Clough's men looked to be building from there and appeared the likelier to make the next breakthrough.

Burton Albion midfielder Jackson Irvine celebrates his equalizer against Hull City at the KCOM Stadium (Image: James Wilson/Epic Action Imagery)

That was until Irvine - already booked for a cynical challenge on Henriksen - stretched for a loose ball around the same area from where he had just bent in a beauty of an equaliser.

Jarrod Bowen beat him to it, and while there was nothing strong or dirty about the foul, referee Darren England brought out a second yellow, perhaps sensing that the Tigers had a counter-attacking opportunity had the foul not been made.

It felt like a potentially decisive moment in the game.

Within five minutes of the restart after half-time, Hull were back in front, Aina - troubled by Dyer in the first half - cutting back to float a cross towards the penalty spot, where Grosicki leapt highest to direct a fine header just inside the far post.

And a mountainous challenge became almost stratospheric four minutes after that, when a mishit Buxton clearance fell to Hernandez on the edge of the box, the Hull forward making no mistake with a comprehensive finish.

Down to 10 men, having played only three days previously and against a side just down from the Premier League, it felt like damage-limitations time then for Burton.